Possible Relo. to Duluth (Atlanta, Sandy Springs: real estate, house, neighborhoods)

[mass mom]

Hi all. We will possibly be relocating to Duluth (we'll find out by the end of the week). In the meantime I've been doing some real estate research. There seem to be so many gated communities! Our price range is $850k - $980k. We have 3 young children in elementary school. Could anyone give some insight into some of the neighborhoods in Duluth? The ones that keep popping up in my searches are St. Marlo, Sweet Bottom Plantation and Sugarloaf. Any info would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

[jxu66]

Sugarloaf country club is where a lot of athletes live. A lot of atlanta trashers players live there because hockey training facility is nearby Suwanee. A lot of atlanta falcons (Michael Vicks and former coach Mora) live there too because Atlanta Falcons training facility is also in North Gwinnett. It also is home of Bellsouth classic every spring. It is very privilage location.

You could also look Country club of South in nearby John's Creek. A lot of famous people (Whitney Houston) also live there.

Not familiar with other on your lists. From the address, Sweat bottom is within city of Berkeley Lake and St Marlo is in South Forsyth, actually a little far from Duluth.

[mass mom]

Thanks for the reply Jxu66. I just started a search in Dunwoody as well. Having never visited, it's hard to get a feel for the towns! Thanks for any additional info anyone has out there.

[jxu66]

Dunwoody is also very privilage neighborhood. It is older neighborhood. It have older charming, characteristic home. But it does not seems to have a lot of gates community. Don't know that's important to you. Also, most parents in Dunwoody sent their kids to private schools since there are a lot of excellent private schools around that area while parents in John's Creek and Duluth tend to send their kids to public school and there are also lack of private schools around Duluth.

[Forsyth-Online]

I would recommend Sugarloaf Country Club over St. Marlo due to the fact that the traffic getting in and out of St. Marlo is a nightmare! There is St. Ives down the road but they are older homes. Country Club of the South would be a good choice but you would be going in at the bottom end of the price range and it is in Alpharetta. There are many nice areas in Alpharetta area in that price range, I'm assuming you want to stay in Duluth and not Alpharetta though.

[lastminutemom]

Dunwoody is in two counties -- Fulton and DeKalb. In terms of house, you will get more for your money and have more choices on the Fulton side (which happens to be in the city of Sandy Springs.) There are only a couple of neighborhoods that fall in that price range in Dunwoody/DeKalb. There are individual infill homes that have been built in older neighborhoods. In some cases, the tear downs are isolated, the only one of the block, but in others serveral have been done at a time.

We have no country club communities in Dunwoody. I have heard good things about all the communities you listed, but you might also want to consider the Falls at Autry Mill which is sort of between Dunwoody and Duluth geographically.

In Dunwoody/DeKalb, I would say that somewhere around 60 percent of kids spend at least some time in public school. The percentage would be lower in Dunwoody/Fulton. The schools in N. Fulton are highly regarded.. .though much larger than what you would find in either Dunwoody/DeKalb or Dunwoody/Fulton.

[Calcbunny]

ooooooo Sugarloaf country club....I passed it the other day and told my husband I want to move there next. Very nice!

[Philagirl]

Don't live in Atlanta yet, but I have checked out Tavistock in Johns Creek. It's in your price range, in Northview School District, and right across the street from the elementary and middle schools. It's also not too far from Duluth.

[mass mom]

Thanks all. It is all so overwhelming... so many counties/towns/neighborhoods to look into! My husband's potential job would be in Duluth so that is the area I've been focusing on but I appreciate all the other info you've given me. I will look into it all!

Thanks!

[jxu66]

Speak of sugarloaf country club, did anybody check out infamous "Mansion Madam"'s house at Sugarloaf country club? It is featured in today's ajc's private quarter.

http://www.ajc.com/news/content/business/private/shtories/2007/03/08/0311sbizprivate.html (broken link)

It all depend on what you want.

If you want to live with rich and famous, Sugarloaf CC and Country of South are Worldwide famous due to number of famous people live there.

If you want the best schools and are willing to pay for private school, Dunwoody or even intown is better choice since a lot of excellent private schools there. Driving from Dunwoody to Duluth is not too bad since it is reverse commuting.